The
second-ranked University of Florida blanked Alabama, 7-0, on Sunday and became
the lone remaining undefeated team remaining in Southeastern Conference action
with three conference matches left on the 2011-12 regular-season schedule.
The
Gators (15-1, 8-0) handed the SEC Western Division leading Crimson Tide (13-3,
7-1) its first league loss of the season and halted Alabama’s eight-match
winning streak while earning their 10th consecutive dual match
victory, including their 33rd straight in SEC regular-season action.
“I
thought we played great. It was beautiful, it was a great crowd, it was a
tremendous college tennis atmosphere,” UF head coach Roland Thornqvist
said. “We were very disciplined. I was proud to see that we competed like
champions. Our body language looked professional. We played a hard-hitting
Alabama team and I was just really pleased to see that we were able to
neutralize some of their aggression and play great defense. Overall, I am very,
very pleased with the weekend and that we are continuing to get better.”
Florida
captured the win on all three singles courts, with the Gator teams of Sofie
Oyen (Leopoldsburg, Belgium) and Allie Will (Boca Raton, Fla.) and Lauren
Embree (Marco Island, Fla.) and Joanna Mather (Duluth Ga.) both
winning their 13th consecutive matches, respectively. The victories
marked the 80th individual doubles win for Embree, as well as the 98th
for Mather, the 50th for Oyen and the 82nd for Will. Caroline
Hitimana (Waterloo, Belgium) and Olivia Janowicz (Palm Bay, Fla.)
posted the third doubles win to complete the sweep.
